Mountains and Chollas and Sun, Oh My!

It's been a while since last I've posted.  I've been busy 'moving', entertaining (or surviving) in laws (for 2 months) and blogging in my 'other' blog.  In any case, I'm due for updating my space blog.  Is it sweet?  Yes! Truly.  But I'm posting before and after pics just to fill you in.  The first pic is the kitchen before we 'refinished' the orange oak cabinets.  We bought a dark stain with a sealer built in and it totally changed the look.  We also got rid of the white micro wave (which is now in the casita.) and put a stainless micro instead.  It does wonders the little things.

It

The pic below is of our 'living room' before...obviously before. 

Below in this next pic is our dining room....before, obviously.

The pic below is of the 'casita' before any improvements.

Below, living and dining room, before.

Master bath below, before we stained the cabinets a dark cherry.

Master bedroom below.

Below in the next two pics is the casita walk in closet and the casita's main room.

Back yard below pic.

Kitchen cabinets in progress of staining dark cherry.

Below, dining room painted red.

My fave of all time...the pic that you can only read from a mirror.

Below is a pic of thte outside of our home taken on Easter.

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Below is the 'after' pic of our living room.  I painted this wall earlier.  It was a light taupe.  It was way too dreary for me.  I tried to like it, really I did, but it was just to dark.  I decided to paint it this blue and I absolutely love it.  It's cheery and light.  A cool color in the desert.

Below, back yard pics.

Below kitchen cabinets finished and all together. I love the new look don't you?

Our front yard is a park with a small little lake and a fountain.  I LOVE this..this is the main reason we bought this house....We had an easter egg hunt in the park and even though I didn't buy the plastic eggs..(I used aluminum foil instead...I know..say no more.)the kids didn't care as long as there were treasures inside.

Being in the desert has so many plusses..not to mention I'm so much closer to my  heart...my (our) son. 

There is still so much more I would love to do to make this my home.  So many ideas swirling through my mind...it's difficult to slow them down.  I'll keep you posted though...In the meantime...I'm not afraid of scorpians.

My Final Photo Good-Bye to My True Home, KC...The best city ever!

Sitting here curled under my cozy white fleece blanky with the silky trim, on my leather couch, looking out my very large windows all I see is snow, everywhere.  I don't think I've seen this much snow for years and years.  Our little white American Eskimo doggy, Lexy, went outside and the snow came up to her  chest.  It didn't stop her playing by buyrying her little black nose  in the snow, and then flipping it up to throw the wet, cold white stuff off...so cute.  But the snow is NOT cute..not in my timing.







 

Fortunately we're out of here in a couple of weeks, we hope.  My two sweet sisters are supposed to be travelling from the icelands of Illinois  the day after tomorrow to help me finish up packing, cleaning, and for one last, fun good bye!  They will also bring my three pieces of art  I just purchased on ebay for my new home in Phoenix.  If they don't bring them, I may have to give them up.  The shipping would be horrendous. I bought a rather large 'poster' (?) where on side only bears the words in red and black "reinvent yourself".  The next piece ,or pieces I should say, are letters.  One very large, vintage, red  "P". My brother in law, Dan, who was sooooo kind to pick it up a half hour from his house, said the letter probably measures almost three feet high and 18" wide.  Then there is a vintage, red "M" for my grand-daughter Maya.  It lights up!  The last thing I bought is a black metal sort of suit case...Hopefully they'll make it here and I'll be able to show you pics once I incorporate it all into my decor scheme.

In any case, even though I will not miss this extreme weather, KC is very beautiful in the winter when all is white and soft..here are some examples:






(david eulitt photo)












Kansas City is probably the most beautiful city I know. There is so much to do (when blizzard conditions aren't in effect) like Power and Light District, Plaza of course,  the West Bottoms is really becoming artsy with great antique and vintage shops, the City Market area , Crossroads with the great 'First Fridays',  Martini Corner and never leaving out the great 18th and Vine for amazing jazz, .  Here are a few picks of these great places and some misc pics that I'll truly miss:


Power and Light District



A pic of our daughter, her husband and of course her father and my soul mate/husband Phil at the Power and Light District right before a Dave Matthews concert...we doubled...Such fun!!!!!!!!


Another pic at the Power and Light District with my mother in law.

Power and Light District


the Plaza

Bottoms Up Antique Market, Kansas City

West Bottoms

City Market entrance

City Market bars and resturaunts

Crossroads on a First Friday's night...obviously, a summer night.  Nice!

Crossroads gallery

18th and Vine

18th and Vine

Below are just some random pics of my, what used to be, normal drive into work.  I really enjoyed seeing the city as I drove.

Starting out from the burbs.

One last pic...how could I ever forget the Royals???????????  Ladies Night Out at the "K"......geeeesh.....what fun! Especially with Casey, my little Lamb ;-)

So all you faithfuls who read this....my last photo good-bye to my favorite city.  Although I wasn't raised here, I've lived here for 20 years and it feels more like home to me than anywhere...so I call it MY home. 

Good-bye my beautiful Kansas City (and Burbs of course)  You have been the best to me...I'll miss this city!! BUT NOT THE WEATHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!